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WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Barack Obama on Monday cautioned the nation's governors that a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security could result in tens of thousands of furloughed employees.
"They all work in your states. These are folks who, if they don't have that paycheck, are not going to be able to be able to spend that money in your states," Obama said, addressing a gathering of the National Governors Association at the White House.
"It will have a direct impact on your economy and it will have a direct impact on America's national security, because their hard work helps to keep us safe," he continued. "And as governors, you know can't afford to play politics with our national security."
Congress is nearing a Friday deadline to continue funding the agency, but disagreements over the president's executive action on immigration have stalled negotiations.
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told the governors Sunday that if no deal is reached in time, he could have to suspend grants that help local police and firefighters pay for training and equipment.
"Congress and the executive branch have to find a way to work together on this," Gov. Gary Herbert, R-Utah, said Sunday at Johnson's remarks. The governors are in town for the National Governors Association winter meeting.
Republicans made sharp gains in the 2014 midterms just a few months ago, bringing the totally number of GOP governors to 31, with 18 Democrats and one independent.
It will have a direct impact on your economy and it will have a direct impact on America's national security, because their hard work helps to keep us safe. And as governors, you know can't afford to play politics with our national security.
–President Barack Obama
In the crowd Monday were some of Obama's fiercest and most vocal critics, including some who are actively trying to get his job in 2016.
Among those who attended the event Sunday night was Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who's taken heat for not taking a firm stance on controversial comments by Rudy Giuliani that the president doesn't love America. Walker also told The Washington Post this weekend that he "doesn't know" whether Obama is a Christian.
The potential presidential candidate blamed the media for asking what he called "gotcha" questions, while a spokeswoman followed up with the Post, saying, "Of course the governor thinks the president is a Christian," she said.
Walker later tweeted a selfie with his son at the White House for the dinner.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, in an opinion piece for Fox News, called on the president to start identifying ISIS extremism as an Islamic threat, and he urged the White House to write a new Authorization for Use of Military Force against ISIS that would allow for the option of putting boots on the ground.
"The American people are not as dimwitted as you seem to believe we are. We know that most Muslims have no interest in terrorism," he writes. "The American people are not looking to blame peace-loving Muslims for anything, but we also demand a leader who will be honest with us about the threat we are facing from radical Islamic terrorists."
One consistent critic who won't be in the room on Monday is New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. The likely 2016 Republican presidential hopeful traveled home to Trenton over the weekend.
CNN's Eric Bradner contributed to this report.
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